It’s one of those rooms you don’t think much about when you consider decorating the home. It serves a utilitarian purpose. And after all, you won’t be serving tea there. In fact, there is no real standard layout for the laundry room – they tend to vary somewhat, often greatly.
We do have some design ideas for laundry room cabinets on our websites. Sometimes, laundry rooms are buried on the basement level or in the garage, at the mercy of the limited surroundings. So isn’t it just a bit ironic that we spend so much time in the laundry area? Well, we wouldn’t have clean clothes if we didn’t.
So, doesn’t it make sense to make this special area as comfortable and easy to use as possible?
Of course, it does. So, we first need to determine exactly how we want this room to function.
We often store items unrelated to the laundry here, such as pet accessories and outdoor gear. Consider every need the room must accommodate.
Can you comfortably sort and fold your clothes, or do you need space in another room? Can you hang clothes without issue for air drying as well?
Let’s Start With The Basics
The appliances you choose will impact every other decision you make for the room.
Do you prefer them stacked or side by side?
You may base your choice on how much space you have or what is more accommodating of your own physical stature.
For example, you could want front-loading appliances over top-loading appliances so that you may use the top surface of the machines to fold and sort.
Of course, if budget and space allow for an island to spread everything out upon, that’s a great idea. And what’s a laundry room without a deep sink for hand washing and tough stain treatments?
So, let’s think common sense.
What is your budget? Investing just a few thousand dollars for the machines wouldn’t be difficult.
They will also contribute to the bill if you need to modify plumbing, build cabinets, or perform any other construction task.
But if you already have a washer and dryer in decent shape and the space is relatively small, you’re looking at an easy cost for sprucing the space up with some nice remodel touches. A coat of paint or a unique selection of wallpaper could do wonders…
Determine the expenses and large items first. Are you installing new cabinets? Putting in a new floor? Purchasing appliances? If you have old cabinets, you may consider keeping them. Perhaps they can be refurbished.
The same for the floor, can it be saved? Once you’ve factored the costly stuff into your budget, consider what improvements can be afforded with the balance.
If you have difficulty getting a grip on the scope of it all, bring in the help of a professional. They’ll offer solutions you never would have thought of. They’ll also help you save money by maximizing the use of the room’s existing features.
Is the laundry room in plain sight? Are visitors sure to see it? If so, you may want to be conservative with your remodel, using solid colors, etc… this keeps it from being an unwanted distraction.
However, if it is out of sight, you may want to have fun and experiment with the style choices that excite you. Otherwise, keep it conservative, nice, and maintained if visitors and family members pass through often.
Determine a style that sort of reflects the overall look of the home. Little details don’t go unnoticed.
Depending on the ambition of your project, you could be going over floor plans, elevations, and mechanical drawings at some point. If so, you probably know what permits you will need.
You’ll be talking to contractors and they can handle much of the process for you. So, before demolition starts, confirm that you have all the necessary materials. Just as in any consumer affair, be sure to get receipts for everything, warranties, and any/all documentation about the project.
Once the project is complete, do a walkthrough and confirm all is well.
You don’t want to call your contractor later because of some cracks you found. Thereafter, decorate it with some nice personal finishing touches.
Add a nice rug, framed pictures, a soap dispensary, a paper towel holder, etc..… anything to add to the homey atmosphere and its convenience and practicality.
